Pacers Lance Stephenson is fouled by the Bulls Derrick Rose,left. Indiana Pacers play the Chicago Bulls in a preseason game Saturday Oct. 5, 2013, at Bankers Life Fieldhouse.

These are the games Pacers fans should circle on the 2013-14 calendar:

Nov. 6: Pacers vs Chicago

Nothing to see here, folks. Please disperse.

When talking about the Pacers-Bulls rivalry, Chicago star Derrick Rose sounds like a police officer trying to prevent a crowd from gawking at a grisly crime scene. "People say that it's a rivalry, but I don't really see it," he said.

Try harder, D Rose. There is a rivalry as well as a heightened sense of urgency when these teams play. Even in the preseason, Bulls forward Taj Gibson spoke about the trash talking and "cheap shots" during the Oct. 18 matchup. So, judging by the play on the court, there's plenty of animosity between the Pacers and the Bulls.

Nov. 9: Pacers at Brooklyn

Money can't buy love - but maybe a championship? Brooklyn certainly hopes so after it spent freely like a rich uncle last summer.

The Nets bankrolled the league's highest payroll by trading for the aging yet effective tandem of Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce, while also signing Jason Terry and Andrei Kirilenko to mix with former All-Stars Deron Williams, Joe Johnson and Brook Lopez. The Pacers will learn just how far a dollar goes during this game; the first big road test of the season.

Nov. 20: Pacers at New York

More bright lights in the big city for the Pacers. This will be the first meeting between the teams since Indiana defeated the Knicks, 4-2, in the Eastern Conference second-round series - and New York star Carmelo Anthony still burns about it.

"I'm not over it. I'm not over it," Anthony told ESPN. "I might act like it's over but I'm not over it, not at all."

Dec. 1: Pacers at L.A. Clippers

The Clippers play as the bizarro Pacers. Just as Indiana shines as a defensive wizard, the show called 'Lob City' lights up the scoreboard with an entertaining style of play.

Blake Griffin dunks may lead SportsCenter but so far those highlights haven't produced what really matters - postseason success. This year should be different with coach Doc Rivers at the helm and a bench that could score with any starting five in the league. This game kicks off a West Coast road trip for the Pacers that will reveal a lot about the team early in the season.

Dec. 7: Pacers at San Antonio

Things don't get easier after L.A. On the same road trip, the Pacers have to face the defending Western Conference champions on their home floor.

While the Pacers have been equally encouraged and dogged by the fact that they came within one game of the reaching the NBA Finals, at least they did not experience the pain that tortured the Spurs all summer long.

San Antonio had the championship wrapped up in Game 6 against the Miami Heat before blowing a five-point lead in the final 24 seconds of the fourth quarter. The Spurs are still one of the best in the West but with a maturing core, this could be their last rodeo.

Dec. 10: Pacers vs Miami

Finally. The rematch Indiana has been waiting for since June 3.

Over the last two years, the Pacers have fallen to Miami in the playoffs only to watch the Heat move on to win the title.

Now, the Pacers are as confident as ever and assured that they belong in the upper echelon. So this game will be a put-up-or-shut-up moment for Indiana.

Dec. 18: Pacers at Miami

And if you couldn't get enough of LeBron and company - surprise! Here they are again.

The quirky scheduling pits Indiana against arch nemesis Miami twice in only eight days. The Pacers and Heat may grow sick of one another at this point, but will take a break - as all bickering couples should - for several months. They won't meet again until March 26.

Jan. 20: Pacers at Golden State

You don't have to be an NBA fanatic to care about this late January regular-season game. There's a reason why TNT will televise this one, as it will feature two of the youngest and brightest stars in the league (Paul George and Golden State's Stephen Curry).

Beyond the George and Curry showcase, the Pacers will have more team-oriented goals in mind as they kick off their second and final West Coast road trip. Last season, Indiana finished with a respectable 18-12 record against Western Conference teams. If the Pacers survive this five-game trip, then they can look forward to a home-heavy February schedule.

Feb. 18: Pacers vs Atlanta

There will be plenty of chances to see the team in blue and gold in February. With eight home games during the month, the Pacers - who finished 30-11 at Bankers Life Fieldhouse last year - have an opportunity to find a rhythm just as teams are jockeying for playoff spots through the second half of the season.

Atlanta has a playoff pedigree in spite of the changes within the organization with a new head coach and the loss of Josh Smith, and should still give Indiana a challenge.

April 13: Pacers vs Oklahoma

At this point in the season, both teams will likely have secured playoff seeds and the lineups may reflect as much. However, intrigue still remains with this matchup.

Indiana's ascendence closely resembles the rise of the Thunder. Following the Thunder's formula of homegrown stars and steady improvement in the playoffs, the Pacers can end the regular season as the next small-market to take over the NBA.

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10 can't-miss Indiana Pacers games

These are the games Pacers fans should circle on the 2013-14 calendar: